Channels reversed in streaming versions of older albums


I was going back and forth between the turntable and streaming, comparing some albums and songs.  I noticed on Al Stewart Year of the Cat, the channels were reversed on the streaming version.  Then I semi randomly pulled out Clapton Unplugged, and the same thing.  It didn't matter which music service I played it from, Amazon, Qobuz and Tidal.

I did verify with the HFN&RR test record that my turntable is correctly hooked up.  Then I found a test record stream from one of the services, and it too played correctly with the left/right test.

Is this a common thing?  It's kind of annoying, you'd think the digital transfers/remasters would have gotten it right.
vinylzone

Showing 2 responses by vinylzone

Led Zeppelin I also, Plant singing "Babe" (first sung word) on my first press UK copy comes from the left, on the remaster digital streams comes from the right.

Another annoying thing about digital I guess.  I haven't tried any classical yet.  That would be really weird hearing the violins on the wrong side of the stage.